Exclusive pumping

My baby has a posterior tongue tie, she eventually got better at latching, nipple sheilds helped the sillicone ones eventually she fed without them she’s 6 months now. I also found dummy and bottle made it harder for her to latch on breast so if you’re using these find breastfeeding friendly teats xx

Sorry you’re going through this, it also sounds like you’ve had some pretty bad advice from so called experts! Posterior tongue ties can definitely be cut, I had my little girl’s posterior tongue tie cut privately at 8 weeks, it wasn’t able to be done on the NHS as she was gaining weight and technically wasn’t that bad a tie but she was causing a lot of pain to me when she was feeding. I exclusively pumped whilst I let my nipples heal and until she had adapted to the new movement in her tongue. It cost £230 for it to be cut privately and within two weeks we were back breastfeeding and it was pain free. Exclusively pumping is hard work but it’s definitely doable if you wanted to do it, pumping during the early hours of the morning will generate the most milk. Good luck lovely with what you decide to do 💗 xx

I have seen exclusively pumping mom able to pump for 8 months and use freezer stash for remaining months until 12. I exclusively pump as my baby doesn't transfer milk efficiently. Introducing formula after 6 months isn't a bad thing alongside how much breastmilk you are able to provide. I see it like the best of both world as anyways you are introducing solids. Do what you feel best. You got this!

I'm sorry this sounds really frustrating and doesn't sound like you feel very supported. You absolutely can get posterior tongue ties cut especially when it is impacting breastfeeding. You shouldn't have to use formula if you are wanting to breastfeed and they should be encouraging you and supporting you to do this. You may not have any luck with the NHS as I know in my area they were not great with tongue ties and so we paid to have our son's done privately instead (£200). Of course you can exclusively pump and a lot of women do do this but it is hard work and so breastfeeding from the breast is preferred by many.

My baby is 15 weeks old on Thursday and I’ve been exclusively pumping for the last 11/12 weeks I’d say. We started off breastfeeding then introduced formula top ups while I established my supply using a pump as she stopped taking my left breast altogether. My baby is 80% breastmilk fed and fed one bottle of formula per day as I offer her these if I am not sure she will finish a feed. So once the formula tin is open we have to use it within 4 weeks so hence she gets one bottle per day so we use it up. My supply is fine in that we could do away with formula. It’s more of a security blanket. Would maybe offering an occasional formula bottle be an option for you while you ensure you have sufficient breastmilk for the rest of baby’s feeds? Pumping is hard work - I do agree! I’m planning to pump indefinitely and maybe ditch the formula once we hit 6 months and start weaning.

My baby had exactly the same tongue tie, we found out at 7 weeks and I chose not to cut it. I pumped exclusively for 7 months, I only stopped two weeks ago as I wasn’t keeping up demand and my milk supply dropped after a bout of food poisoning. I did manage a small stash of frozen milk but it’s nothing like fresh and my baby isn’t keen. I was so upset moving him onto formula by I now feel like I have a whole new lease of life not being tied to pump sessions. I am really proud I managed to do it for so long but honestly I doubt I would ever do it again if I had another baby.

Exclusive pumping is doable and people do it successfully. However it’s absolutely harder than straight breastfeeding. And it’s really more of a question for you if you personally feel that you can manage the schedule of pumping, washing and bagging milk every single day. And is it worth it to you to do with the physical and mental toll it takes.